Fragile and conflict affected situations - Urban population

The value for Urban population in Fragile and conflict affected situations was 395,821,400 as of 2020. As the graph below shows, over the past 60 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 395,821,400 in 2020 and a minimum value of 37,286,200 in 1960.

Definition: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.

Source: World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.

See also:

Year Value
1960 37,286,200
1961 39,045,850
1962 40,882,590
1963 42,824,650
1964 44,861,700
1965 47,028,160
1966 49,276,100
1967 51,629,910
1968 54,066,340
1969 56,610,440
1970 59,282,410
1971 62,180,020
1972 65,145,230
1973 68,188,330
1974 71,204,710
1975 74,351,010
1976 77,646,710
1977 81,052,560
1978 84,550,480
1979 88,079,300
1980 91,684,090
1981 95,577,430
1982 99,556,530
1983 103,769,500
1984 108,287,400
1985 112,994,800
1986 117,860,000
1987 122,890,800
1988 128,031,600
1989 133,301,400
1990 140,188,100
1991 145,703,800
1992 151,550,900
1993 157,500,500
1994 163,301,900
1995 169,102,800
1996 174,873,500
1997 180,680,100
1998 186,550,200
1999 192,662,800
2000 199,097,200
2001 206,315,200
2002 213,804,000
2003 221,574,500
2004 229,542,600
2005 237,732,400
2006 246,130,500
2007 254,361,700
2008 263,565,900
2009 273,106,200
2010 283,018,300
2011 293,072,500
2012 303,395,900
2013 314,018,400
2014 324,831,500
2015 336,059,500
2016 347,311,500
2017 358,661,300
2018 370,355,300
2019 382,674,700
2020 395,821,400

Development Relevance: Explosive growth of cities globally signifies the demographic transition from rural to urban, and is associated with shifts from an agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and service. In principle, cities offer a more favorable setting for the resolution of social and environmental problems than rural areas. Cities generate jobs and income, and deliver education, health care and other services. Cities also present opportunities for social mobilization and women's empowerment.

Limitations and Exceptions: Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverage. There is no consistent and universally accepted standard for distinguishing urban from rural areas, in part because of the wide variety of situations across countries. Most countries use an urban classification related to the size or characteristics of settlements. Some define urban areas based on the presence of certain infrastructure and services. And other countries designate urban areas based on administrative arrangements. Because of national differences in the characteristics that distinguish urban from rural areas, the distinction between urban and rural population is not amenable to a single definition that would be applicable to all countries. Estimates of the world's urban population would change significantly if China, India, and a few other populous nations were to change their definition of urban centers. Because the estimates of city and metropolitan area are based on national definitions of what constitutes a city or metropolitan area, cross-country comparisons should be made with caution.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The indicator is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. To estimate urban populations, UN ratios of urban to total population were applied to the World Bank's estimates of total population. Countries differ in the way they classify population as "urban" or "rural." The population of a city or metropolitan area depends on the boundaries chosen.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Environment Indicators

Sub-Topic: Density & urbanization